“Braveheart” was a 1995 epic
historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was
written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace. Gibson portrayed
William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish knight who gained recognition when he
came to the forefront of the First War of Scottish Independence by opposing
King Edward I of England. He led his army to victory at the Battle of Stirling.
“Immortals” is a 3D fantasy
action shown simultaneously in key cities of the world last November 11, 2011,
starring Henry Cavill who played the role of a stonemason named Theseus who
vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion's raids. When Theseus
meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra, her disturbing visions of the young man's
future convinced her that he was the key to stopping the destruction. With her
help, Theseus assembled a small band of followers and embraced his destiny in a
final desperate battle for the future of humanity.
Both films depict leadership
and triumph. Both men led their people into their freedom and victory.
There are voluminous films on leadership,
the importance of it and the methods good leaders utilize in order to be
successful apart from these two. Much is also written on self-help books. People
want to know how to be successful and conquer their field of endeavor, and it
is profitable for leaders to read and understand it.
But, what does a great leader
really have to be? Let's, for a moment, see one of the Bible's model of
leadership, Joshua, who was about to embark on a new phase in his life. The
challenges he faced were daunting and much beyond his ability. Let’s take a
closer look into his example.
What does it take to be a
Leader?
1.
ASSURANCE
3
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great
river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the
west. . 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of
your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you I will never leave you
nor forsake you.
As leaders, our confidence
must be rooted in the promises of God. In this passage God spoke to Joshua and
charged him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. He assured him five
times that He will be with him, never leave him nor forsake him all throughout
the journey. God handpicks us and He empowers us to fulfill our calling and
complete the task at hand. The assurance of His presence enables us to do what
He entrusted us.
2.
TASK
Be
strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I
swore to their ancestors to give them.
The task and the goal of every
leader must be to bring people to a point where they will experience the
fulfillment of God’s plan into their lives.
In the succeeding account wherein
God exalted Joshua in the eyes of Israel, he told the people to come and listen
to the word of God. Although God had validated his leadership, Joshua still
wanted the people to know that he was not the main man in the battle, but only
received instructions from the Lord. A leader must not draw the people to
himself, but to God alone. His confirmation must not come from the praises of
people, but from God.
3.
QUALITIES
6
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead
these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous.
The indispensable qualities of
a leader are strength and courage. As a leader Joshua would face many battles. He
had to deal with sin in His camp. He had
to deal with failure and defeat, and wrong decisions. As a leader you must have
the courage to confront and oppose sin in your camp. Sin was the root cause of
defeat in battle of Ai, a leader must have the strength to rectify it. The treaty
with the Gibeonites is an epitome of deception. As a leader you must have the
sensitivity and discernment before placing people in position.
4.
DISCIPLINE
Be
careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to
the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so
that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
A leader’s inner core is
perpetuated by his discipline. It is evident in his priorities and decision
making. This can only be obtained through obedience.
Joshua did not only govern by
law and had taken care that the people obey the law, but observed the law
himself, and so by his own example maintained the honor and power of it. He did
not only do what was written, he acted according to what is written exactly.
And he did not turn from it. Likewise, our success in our service must not to
control people, but to be controlled by the Word of God. We must obey it fully regardless
of our circumstances. We should not bend it and make it conform to our needs,
but keep and uphold it.
5.
REWARD
Then you will be prosperous and successful
Those that make the word of
God their rule and conscientiously walk by that rule shall both do well and
speed well; it will furnish them with the best maxims by which to order their
conversation and will entitle them to the best blessings. God shall grant them
the desires of their heart.
CONCLUSION:
Joshua
24:28-31
Then
Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance. 29 After
these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a
hundred and ten. 30 And they buried him in the land of his
inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount
Gaash. 31 Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua
and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD
had done for Israel.
Joshua was a new leader handed
with a seemingly impossible task. By following God closely, he led the people
through military triumphs and faithful spiritual obedience. The Israelites
found their rest in the Promised Land and vowed to serve the Lord; the God Who
brought them out of Egypt. This response was a tribute to Joshua’s leadership
and above all to the God he faithfully served.
As present generation leaders,
what is the foundation of your service, growth and blessing? Let your walk and
triumph be considered as fulfillment of what God has promised you. As He had
chosen you, He will equip you. He will be with you until the end of age.
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